Where is everyone?
- 5 February 2011 11:1691554
Tis a gloomy oul morning down on the seafront. Nothing is stirring all round the house..or anywhere else. The sea captains have gone home and life has been cancelled - for today.
Its too cold, too wet, and too miserable!
This unusual sight greeted a weary PaulB a couple of hours ago. Had to do a double take and wipe the sleep from my eyes. Not a ship to be seen!
Here is a slightly closer pic
email: dover7@msn.com - 5 February 2011 11:3991555Well it looks as though they've packed up and gone!Chanters, Drums and Drones Potty Time http://youtu.be/99fMqpjnXYA
Rule Britannia!
Kent First http://youtu.be/04F3mAP3fV4 Keep banging on http://youtu.be/qYCU_SKmkGQ - 5 February 2011 11:4691558hardly anyone in town either, the market consisted of the fruit and veg stalls, a clothing stall and a bread seller.
- Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,316
5 February 2011 12:2791560Yes Howard it was a bit bleak, even the traffic on London Road was nearly non-existent, a bit like cup final day!
You mentioned the big screen on another thread, it does make it somewhat inviting.
Incidentally, when I was there the Chamber hadn't bothered to put their banner up!
Terry
BTW That was about 9.30 this morning, the screens clock was wrong!Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? - 5 February 2011 13:0991562The market is taking a break until April having ended the Christmas period. Dont know why the screen was not updated.
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
5 February 2011 16:0091571paulb,i did notice that my self this morning,and put it down to strong winds that are with us at the moment.
ps,it does get a bit nasty out there at times of high winds.
- 5 February 2011 16:4091577Nasty...not a bit of it! If I was out there now Brian on the swirling water I'd be having a late breakfast fry up..you know the kind. Three fried eggs, bacon, sausages, hash browns, tomatoes, mushrooms..and why not some beans as well..yes lets go for beans as well...
Oooh Im such a liar !!lol email: dover7@msn.com - 5 February 2011 16:4691578Black Pudding Paul ?If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
- 5 February 2011 17:0391583all the ferry companies in dover are reporting delays to sailings due to the weather.
- 5 February 2011 20:3191597Obviously everyone who's anyone is at the beer festivalbeer the food of the gods
- 5 February 2011 20:3491600Or still sleeping it off from last night more likely!
- 5 February 2011 20:3591601i hadn't realised posh barry was attending the event, i thought he was hosting an equestrian event this weekend.
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
5 February 2011 21:0691604ah yes paulb double helpings of everything,closely followed by a couple of stellas.[pints of course.] - 6 February 2011 09:1991618Why close the market until May Barry ?
I know there's a lot of water that has flowed under the bridge since last March, but when I was Dover Business Support Manager for the Dover Chamber of Commerce, I had secured money (pledges) from DTC, DDC and KCC for funding to market the market to stall holders to get up to 40 stalls there; there was also money to pay for advertising in the KOS papers to let the public know we had a good market here.
None of that has been done; the market stall-holders that were there, were very angry at the Chamber and Cameron who they consider to have stuffed it up completely and as actions speak louder than words, the Chamber have shown a complete indifference to the market, it is no more, like the proverbial dead parrot.
I wonder what the view is of DDC.
You (the Chamber) need to be honest with people, not make it worse by spouting BS. You'll get much more respect.
If you'd like me to run the market, let me know.
Roger - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
6 February 2011 10:0591629The traders know that people do not have money to spend at this time of year.
The weather is usually cold and wet so those with the spare cash stay at home.
They take their holidays at this time of year, as I have said before.
They normally start trading again about Easter time.
Those selling food often have shops and like to get rid of the surplus so they open as usual. Even the thriving markets shrink in size after Christmas do a duff one like ours will almost disappear until the Spring.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 6 February 2011 11:2491645Very windy all day today and yesterday so all the ferries are running late and bunching up.
Here on the Dover Seaways we arrived off Dunkerque West in the early afternoon and had to wait half an hour for the Dunkerque Seaways to vacate the berth, seen here departing through the entrance. As with us, her new dark blue DFDS paint is stripping away from the bows and the old Maersk light blue showing through. Hopefully sorting that out on our weekend layover overnight if the weather permits.
Meanwhile, the Delft Seaways arrived off the port and had to wait for us to depart. Seen here entering after we departed through the entrance.
Dover is short of one ferry as the Spirit of Britain has conked out again. She had to turn back to Dover yesterday as she was reduced to one shaft due to the failure of a propeller shaft bearing. Seen here later preparing to leave the berth with tug assistance yesterday afternoon. She has since been stooging around north of the port and is now believed to be on her way to Zeebrugge to receive attention to her defect.
I am writing this whilst the vessel sits out at anchor in the Dunkerque waiting area, which is out in deep water to the north of Calais. Dunkerque West is full tonight, with our two sister ships on layover and a row of boxboats occupying the container berths. The only other berth is untenable in the present high winds so we are stuck out her until early morning. Vessel is bumping about quite a bit so promises to be a rather uncomfortable night.
SNIP: Wrote the above last night but the satellite link packed up and I have only just been able to recover it. We did have a most uncomfortable night at anchor and gave up in the end as it was dragging, picked up anchor and steamed up and down until coming in to Dunkerque when our sister ship vacated the berth at 0400. - 6 February 2011 11:2891647A great report accompanied by stunning photos .Thanks Ed.Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter) - 6 February 2011 17:2391690As Marek said there well done with that report Ed. great stuff as ever. Gosh cant believe the Spirit of Britain has conked out again. I guess its down to teething trouble..heavy duty teething trouble. I saw her languishing there at Dover9 yesterday for quite some time but I didnt twig that there was a problem. Guess the rough weather was a bit too much for her!!
Love them reports coming in from atop the ocean waves.email: dover7@msn.com - 6 February 2011 17:4491692Information reached me that the berths at Calais are too small for the Spirit of Britain. Is this the case?Chanters, Drums and Drones Potty Time http://youtu.be/99fMqpjnXYA
Rule Britannia!
Kent First http://youtu.be/04F3mAP3fV4 Keep banging on http://youtu.be/qYCU_SKmkGQ - 6 February 2011 18:2091697alex
this subject came up a week or two ago, i remember reading that some adjustments had to be made in calais.
great pictures ed.
